Container for vending machine goods



June 14, 1932. G. D. BAROK ET AL 1,363,001

CONTAINER FOR VENDING MACHINE GOODS Filed Dec. 22, 1950 005.6 I on: TABLET EVERY HQUR UNTIL ELIEV I amulet GZDlBarols' SZa ter Patented June 14, 1932 ETED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE D. BAROK AND BUEB H. SLATER, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE ASPIRIN MACHINE COMPANY, INC., F COLUMBUS,- OHIO, CORPORATION OF OHIO CONTAIN ER. FOR VENDING MACHINE GOODS Application filed December 22, 1930. Serial No. 504,085.

This invention relates to an improved container which is especially constructed for use in the dispensing of various kinds of goods, articles and devices. from coin controlled vending machines. It is often highly desirable to dispense many kinds of irregularly or unsymmetrically shaped bodies or objects by vending machines but wherein the shapes are such that it is most difficult and often impossible to produce automatic mechanisms by which such objects or goods can be accurately and positively dischargedin response to given machine operations. Therefore, the present invention resides in the provision of a spherical container which receives the goods to be vended from the coin controlledmachine and wherein the construction of the container is such that not only are the goods dispensed protected against unsanitary conditions when placed in the vending machine but may be regularly and readily discharged in the desired properly controlled manner by customary vending machine construction and by usual operations. 1

In certain specific aspects of the invention, we have provided a vending machine goods container which may be employed in vending machines located in drug stores and other supervised locations for the dispensing of,

pharmaceutical preparations such as aspirin or the like and wherein such preparations take the form of tablets or pills. We accordingly provide a spherical container in which any desired number of the tablets or pills dition until dispensed from an associated machine, when the seal is destroyed in the removal of its contents for the purpose of as- I suring the customer of the quality and origin of the preparation so dispensed and to pre-' vent fraud and substitution. The particular feature of the present invention resides in the spherical shape of the container which lends itself readily to the machine operations of coin controlled vending apparatus.

For a further understanding of the inven-' tion, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein: 7 p

Y Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a vending mamay be placed and retained in a sealed conchine goods container constructedin accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the container;

, Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing the two halves of the container in registering positions immediately prior to the sealing of the container;

Fig. 4 is a similar view disclosing the container in a sealed condition; y

- Fig. 5 is a view in elevation disclosing the operation of deforming a container to remove its contents; g

. Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view showing a slightly modified form of the invention.

. Referring more particularly to the draw.

ing and especially to Figs. 1 to 41: inclusive thereof, the numeral 1 designates the container in its entirety. In this form of the invention disclosed, the container consists of two semispherical sections 22 which are formed from thin sheet metal, such as an aluminum alloy, although other metals may be used advantageously. It is important however that the metal should possess adequate strength to maintain the spherical shape of the assembled container when the latter is in operationin a vending machine, or while the container is being subjectedto the pressures and strains incident to ordinary handling. However, it is likewise important that the metal shall be of such gauge that it may be readily deformed when sub.

jected to positively applied finger pressure in order that the adjoining edges of the sections 2 2 may be spread apart to release the contents of the container.

of the sections has a slightly larger diameter across its open side than the other of said sections, whereby the section of smaller diameter may be to some extent, as shown in Fig. 4, nested within the larger section. This re sults in leaving an overhanging rim on the larger section, as indicated at 3, and after the goods have been placed in the container, as shown at 4, the rim 3, by being placed against a pressure roll or beading tool, may be bent inwardly to closely engage with the slides of the section of smaller diameter, whereby the In the manufacture of the container, one

two sections are thus secured together and accidental separation thereof effectively precluded. When in this state, the containers are placed in a vending machine (not shown) of any improved type, and, due to the spherical form of the container, it may be readily passed through the coin controlled dispensing means of such a vending machine. The spherical shape of the container permits any desired number of the same to be placed in the feeding hopper or magazine of the vending machine, and as the containers are successively withdrawn from time to time, said containers will gravitate without clogging or obstructing the operation of the machine, to discharge positions.

Following their discharge from such a machine, the contents of a given container may be readily removed by grasping the contain or as shown in Fig. 5 and applying some finger pressure thereto. Due to the thin gauge of the metal comprising the container, such pressure will be adequate to burst the sealed joint formed between its sections, the metal being deformed in response to such pressures so that the sections may be readily separated to release the contents thereof. In the dispensing of certain articles, it is quite desirable to apply a paper label or sticker, as indicated at 5, to the outer surfaces of the container so that the label or sticker will over lap the separable adjoining edges of the container. Such label may contain the name or trade-mark of the goods held by the container and directions as to the proper use thereof. Such a label is an additional protection against fraud or substitution and assures the purchaser of goods of proper quality.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Fig. 6, the container indicated at 8 is composed of sections 9-4) which are formed from a cellulosic compound so as to be substantially transparent. The sections 99 contain sufiicient wall strength to provide for proper machine operation but to have the additional advantage of being transparent instead of opaque, as is the case in reference to the container 1. The transparency or translucency of the container 8 permits the contents thereof to be viewed which may in certain instances be a desirable feature. In securing the sections 9-9 together, an effective seal is obtained by slightly heating the adjoining edges of the sections when the latter are in nested relationship, the heating serving to soften the edges to a sufficient extent to enable them to firmly adhere to one another and to avoid accidental separation. When it is desired to remove the contents of the container 8, the application of finger pressure, as set forth in Fig. 5, is sufficient to break the sealed joints between the sec tions and allow the contents to be removed.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a sealed spherical container for use in vending through the medium of coin controlled machines, various articles of merchandise which of themselves do not possess proper proportions adapting them for vending machine operation. Such goods may be readily placed in any one of the containers above disclosed and suitably sealed therein. These sealed containers are then placed in the hopper or magazine of a vending machine. The spherical form of the container readily adapts itself to machine operations so that vending machines of standard construction may be utilized in dispensing the goods. When the containers are removed from the vending machines, the seal protecting the goods is broken and the customer is assured of merchandise of first quality and also as to the source or origin thereof. This latter feature is of especial importance in the dispensing of drug preparations.

l/Vhile there has been disclosed certain forms of the invention which have been found to give satisfactory results in practical use, nevertheless it will be appreciated that we do not limit ourselves to the exact constructions and features hereinbefore set forth but reserve the right to employ such modifications and alterations thereof, as will fall within the scope of. the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing container for articles comprising two hollow sections joined so as to form a closed chamber and secured together by a breakable seal along substantiall the entire length of the joint, said sections eing of a material of such rigidity that they produce when joined a container which will resist normal pressures arising from ordinary use but of sufficient pliability that they may 7.

be deformed and caused to burst apart by the application of pressure adjacent the seam thereof on account of the character of the joint.

2. A dispensing container for articles comprising two hollow transparent sections joined so as to form a closed chamber and secured together by a breakable seal along substantially the entire length of the joint,

said sections being of a material of such rigidity that they produce when joined a container which will resist normal pressures arising from ordinary use but of sufficient pliability that they may be deformed and caused to burst apart by the application of pressure adjacent the seam thereof on account of the character of the joint.

3. A dispensing container for articles comprising two hollow sections of substantially semi-spherical form joined so as to form a closed chamber and secured together by a breakable seal along substantially the entire length of the joint, said sections being of a material of such rigidity that they produce when joined a container which will resist normal pressures arising from ordinary use but of suflicient pliability that they may be deformed and caused to burst apart by the application of pressure adjacent the seam thereof on account of the character of the joint.

4. A dispensing container for articles comprising two hollow sections of substantially semi-spherical form which interfit to form a container of substantially spherical form with over-lapping edges and with the outer edge compressed to a smaller circumference than the circumference of the container along the seam thereof and pressed into sealing relation to the inner section, said sections being formed of a metal of thin gauge that will resist normal pressures arising from ordinary use but may be deformed and caused to burst apart by the application of finger pressure along the seam thereof.

5. A dispensing container for articles comprising two hollow sections of substantially semi-spherical form which interfit to form a container of substantially spherical form with over-lapping edges, the outer edge thereof being compressed to form a sealed joint, said sections being of a material of such rigidity that they produce when joined a container which will resist normal pressures arising from ordinary use but may be deformed and caused to burst apart by the application of finger pressure along the seam thereof.

6. A dispensing container for articles comprising two hollow sections of substantially semi-spherical form which interfit to form a container of substantially spherical form with over-lapping edges, the edge of the outer section being telescoped over the edge of the inner section and contracted to retain the sections against separation, said sections being formed of a metal of thin gauge that will resist normal pressures arising from ordinary use but may be deformed and caused to burst apart by the application of finger pressure along the seam thereof.

7 A dispensing container for articles comprising two hollow sections of substantially semi-spherical form which interfit to form a container of substantially spherical form with over-lapping edges and with the outer edge compressed to a smaller circumference than the circumference ofthe container along the seam thereof, said sections being formed of a metal of thin gauge that will resist normal pressures arising from ordinary use but may be deformed and caused to burst apart by the application of finger pressure along the seam thereof.

8. A dispensing container for receiving and dispensing articles, comprising a hollow substantially spherical body composed of two semi-spherical sections each formed from a material easily yieldable under finger pressure, said sections being relatively telescoped along their circumferential edges .to retain the sections in united relationship, the edge of the outer of said sections being contracted circumferentially into engagement with the outer wall of the adjacent section to normally ,hold the sections together, said connection tures.

GEORGE D. BAROK. BURR H. SLATER. 

